NCJ Number
47021
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION OF VARIOUS GROUPS INVOLVED IN REHABILITATING JUVENILE OFFENDERS BY COUNSELING AND PROBATION ARE TRACED.
Abstract
ALTERNATIVE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH PRIMARILY IN THE ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO (CALIF.) BAY AREA, ARE DISCUSSED. THESE PROGRAMS ARE COMMUNITY-BASED, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ORGANIZING THE YOUTH SO THAT THEY MAY UNDERSTAND THE CONTRADICTIONS IN THE SYSTEM AND THEN WORK TOWARD INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. THE COMMUNITY GROUP ACTS AS A SURROGATE FOR THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, STRESSING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CORRECTION OF THE OFFENDER. THE YOUTH IS REQUIRED TO KEEP REGULAR CONTACT WITH THE GROUP, SERVE ON ITS COMMITTEES, AND ASSUME OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES. THE RESIDENTS OF EAST PALO ALTO WERE ANXIOUS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF THE JUVENILE HALL PREJUDICES AGAINST THEIR CHILDREN. THE COMMUNITY YOUTH RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM (CYRP) WAS ESTABLISHED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COURT AND PROBATION. SEVERAL CASE HISTORIES ON THIS AND A SIMILAR PROJECT IN NEARBY PACIFICA ARE DISCUSSED. THE STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH SOME KIND OF ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO IS ALSO DISCUSSED. TWO ORGANIZATIONS, THE FREE YOUTH COALITION AND ENERGY, WERE ESTABLISHED AS DIVERSIONARY AGENCIES, BUT THEY CONTINUALLY FACED FUNDING PROBLEMS. ALTERNATIVE YOUTH PROJECTS HAVE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL, WITH LOW RECIDIVISM RATES, BUT THE COMPOSITION OF COMMUNITIES CHANGED CONSTANTLY AND FUNDING WAS ALWAYS IN QUESTION. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A MODEL BASED ON THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE OFFENDERS AND THE COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, AND SUBJECTED TO REFORM AS NEEDS CHANGE. (BAC)